Tag: ga bulldogs football news

Los Angeles Rams release RB Todd Gurley

The Los Angeles Rams are releasing former Georgia Bulldog running back Todd Gurley. L.A. sought trades for Gurley, but couldn’t find one.

Todd Gurley is one the best running backs in the National Football League when healthy. Unfortunately for the Georgia Bulldog great, that pesky knee of Gurley’s has caused him issues, hindering his production and limiting his workload. In 2019, Gurley had career-lows in rushing yards (857) and attempts (223).

Now, the Los Angeles Rams are releasing Todd Gurley, their former first round pick. The official Rams Twitter account and ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced the news:

L.A. will save $10.5 million against the cap. The Rams failed to find a trade destination and now Gurley will be a free agent for the first time in his NFL career.

Gurley was two years into a contract with the Los Angeles Rams that included a $21 million signing bonus and $45 million in guarantees. With reduced production and a substantial contract, it is not shocking that the Rams looked to trade RB Todd Gurley according to Michael Silver:

A year after making the Super Bowl, Los Angeles foundered to a 9-7 record. Head coach Sean McVay and the Rams are looking to improve, but they had to get creative since they have limited draft capital and cap room.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Gurley, since he’s been cut, will count for $20.15 million in dead money. The Rams are hampered for the future and were banking on Gurley. Hopefully, Gurley can return to form in time for the 2020 season.

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Report: Rams discussing trading RB Todd Gurley

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley may be on the trade block this off-season. Will the former Georgia Bulldog be traded?

Todd Gurley is one the best running backs in the National Football League when he’s 100% healthy. Unfortunately for the Georgia Bulldog great, that pesky knee of Gurley’s has caused him issues, hindering his production and limiting his workload. In 2019, Gurley had career-lows in rushing yards (857) and attempts (223).

Gurley is two years into a contract with the Los Angeles Rams that included a $21 million signing bonus and $45 million in guarantees. With reduced production and a substantial contract, it is not shocking that Todd Gurley is frequently brought up in NFL trade talks according to Michael Silver:

A year after making the Super Bowl, Los Angeles floundered to a 9-7 record. Head coach Sean McVay and the Rams are looking to improve, but they must get creative since they have limited draft capital and around $20 million dollars in cap room.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Gurley, if cut right now, would count $20.15 million in dead money. So that’s no an option for L.A..

Los Angeles may have trouble finding a destination for Gurley. Stranger things have happened. Just ask Texans fans. Anything can happen in the NFL off-season (evidence below):

Running backs are still worth something to Houston coach/general manager Bill O’Brien.

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Georgia football QB Jamie Newman keeps moving up in Heisman odds

Georgia football QB Jamie Newman moves up in 2020 Heisman odds.

Georgia was in need of a quarterback and the graduate transfer from Wake Forest was a hot commodity when he made his decision to depart the Demon Deacons and take his talents to Athens. As if replacing three-year starter Jake Fromm isn’t difficult enough, Jamie Newman will be challenged to implement a new, more RPO- oriented attack and add some swagger to the UGA offense.

The Las Vegas oddsmakers, who are more right than wrong, believe he made the right decision in choosing the Bulldogs.

According to William Hill Superbook, Newman’s odds for securing the Heisman have moved to 10/1, now third behind Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields (7/2) and Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (4/1).  In early February, Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook had Newman at 12/1 odds and just after his transfer announcement, Newman was listed at 16/1 odds.

Newman was one of the top graduate transfers on the market. Miami, Oregon, Maryland and Washington, among others were seeking the services of the North Carolina native.

According to Pro Football Focus, Newman is the nation’s third-highest graded returning quarterback, behind only Fields and Lawrence.  He started all 13 games last season and led Wake to an 8-5 record. He completed 220 of 361 passes (60.9 percent) for 2,868 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He rushed for 574 yards and six touchdowns on 180 carries.

Being the starting quarterback at the University of Georgia always comes with high expectations and takes an extremely talented, confident and bright athlete to handle the pressure. Jamie Newman checks off all the boxes. Dawg fans will have their first opportunity to check out Newman and the 2020 Bulldogs during G-Day, scheduled for 2:00pm on Saturday, April 18. The game will be game carried live on the SEC Network.

Georgia football: Expectations for QB Jamie Newman keep growing

Georgia football is expecting big things for new QB Jamie Newman.

The graduate transfer from Wake Forest was a hot commodity when he made his decision to depart the Demon Deacons and take his talents to Athens. As if replacing three-year starter Jake Fromm isn’t difficult enough, Newman will be challenged to implement a new, more RPO- oriented attack and add some swagger to the UGA offense.

The Las Vegas oddsmakers, who are more right than wrong, believe he made the right decision in choosing the Bulldogs.

Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook now has Newman at 12/1 odds to win the Heisman Trophy. Just after his transfer announcement, Newman was listed as 16/1 odds, tied for sixth-best. He is now tied for third with Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger and Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler. Westgate still has former Georgia and current Ohio State QB Justin Fields and Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (Cartersville, GA) as the favorites at 4/1.

Newman was one of the top graduate transfers on the market. Miami, Oregon, Maryland and Washington, among others were seeking the services of the North Carolina native.

According to Pro Football Focus, Newman is the nation’s third-highest graded returning quarterback, behind only Fields and Lawrence.  He started all 13 games last season and led Wake to an 8-5 record. He completed 220 of 361 passes (60.9 percent) for 2,868 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He rushed for 574 yards and six touchdowns on 180 carries.

Being the starting quarterback at the University of Georgia always comes with high expectations and takes an extremely talented, confident and bright athlete to handle the pressure. Jamie Newman checks off all the boxes.

Two former Georgia football players/coaches leave South Carolina for NFL

Two former Georgia football players and coaches have left South Carolina to coach in the NFL.

Two coaches are leaving the South Carolina program to take NFL coaching jobs.

Both of those coaches happen to be guys who played and coached at the University of Georgia.

Thomas Brown, who played running back at Georgia from 2004-07, has joined the Los Angeles Rams staff as the running backs coach, where he will coach former Dawg Todd Gurley.

Related: Thomas Brown hired to Rams

And Bryan McClendon, who caught passes in Athens from 2002-05, will be joining the Steelers staff as receivers coach.

Related: Report: Former Georgia WR Bryan McClendon hired to Steelers

After their collegiate playing careers, both players returned to Georgia to coach shortly after testing out the NFL.

McClendon coached the running backs and receivers in Athens from 2009-2015, after spending two seasons as a grad assistant at Georgia.

Brown coached at Georgia in 2011 as a strength coach and then came back in 2015 to coach the running backs, which at the time was Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.

Both ended up on the same staff at South Carolina under none other than former Georgia defensive back Will Muschamp, who is head coach of the Gamecocks.

Georgia ties run deep.

Report: Former Georgia football player and coach hired to Steelers staff

The Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly hired a former Georgia football wide receiver to coach.

According to the ABC television affiliate in Columbia, S.C., the Pittsburgh Steelers have pulled from the college ranks to find their next receivers coach.

The Steelers have reportedly worked out a deal with former Georgia wide receiver Bryan McClendon, who also coached in Athens for nearly a decade.

The Steelers have been on a long search for a receivers coach. This past season, interim receivers coach Ray Sherman handled those duties after Darryl Drake passed away during training camp in August.

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McClendon played at Georgia from 2002-05, finding a ton of success in Athens.

After college, he tried out the NFL for a year with the Bears but quickly found himself coaching at Georgia in 2007 as a graduate assistant and staying until 2015. In 2009, McClendon was promoted to running backs coach under Mark Richt, a position he held until 2014, before switching to wide receivers coach in 2015. He also added other titles along the way, such as assistant head coach and interim head coach after Richt’s firing.

In 2016, McClendon was named co-offensive and wide receivers coach coordinator at South Carolina and in 2019 was named the Gamecocks’ offensive coordinator.

Oddly enough, McClendon is the second former Georgia football player to get an NFL coaching job today. And even more odd, the other, Thomas Brown, also left a position at South Carolina to do so.

Kirby Smart pumped up about Georgia football OL signees

Georgia football HC Kirby Smart pleased with UGA’s offensive line signees and the good work of Matt Luke.

Georgia football lost a ton of offensive line talent this offseason to the NFL Draft and to transfer.

Maybe the biggest talent that Georgia lost at the position was not even a player, but position coach Sam Pittman, who left to become head coach at Arkansas.

Georgia lost both its starting tackles and guards from last season but were able to sign seven offensive linemen in this class.

With the quick hire of former Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke to take over for Pittman in Athens, Georgia did not miss a beat on the recruiting trail.

After Georgia football landed college football’s No. 1 ranked recruiting class, head coach Kirby Smart spoke with the media about why he recruited each position group the way that he did.

When discussing the offensive line group, Smart mentioned how thrilled he was with the quick hiring of Luke and how important that was to the recruits.

Luke helped Georgia to sign the nation’s No. 2 and No. 3 offensive tackles and the No. 1 center.

Kirby Smart on the offensive line:

“We’re excited about the offensive line class. First of all it ranges from large and wide to a little bit lighter and more athletic. These guys will have to develop. I’ve always said the offensive line position is probably the toughest to come in and play right away if you just rank all the positions going forward. Andrew was very unique to be able to do that but that’s very rare to be able to do that at that position. These guys will have to come in develop, lift, work. What’s going to be unique for us is a lot of these guys may be littered across the two-deep. Just because our numbers are really down on the offensive line. They’ve got a good opportunity to come in and compete and start but they’ll also be going against some guys this spring that are going to get better and grow. Coach Luke is a big part of that energy. Getting him on staff fast was probably one of the critical roles to that transition. It wasn’t a long time process where they had to sit on the unknown. Two days, three days after Coach Pittman left these kid had somebody new to meet and began to meet them before the middle dead period, the  Christmas dead period. It was critical so that he could communicate with them throughout that period and keep a relationship. He’s got a lot of energy. He’s been a blessing for us. In addition, it helps me from a head coach standpoint. It did help a lot on the offensive line.”

Georgia football: Kirby Smart excited about loaded group of WR signees

Georgia football HC Kirby Smart talked about UGA’s loaded group of incoming wide receivers.

After Georgia football landed college football’s No. 1 ranked recruiting class, head coach Kirby Smart spoke with the media about why he recruited each position group the way that he did.

A big reason why Georgia was able to secure the No. 1 class was in part thanks to the signing of five wide receivers, four of them being 4-stars.

We all saw the step back that Georgia football suffered this past season on offense without Mecole Hardman, Terry Godwin, JJ Holloman, Riley Ridley and Isaac Nauta.

Next season Georgia will be without one of its best receivers Lawrence Cager, who shined in 2019 as a grad transfer from Miami before suffering a season ending injury.

Luckily for the Bulldogs, though, Georgia football is in good shape with the return of two five-stars George Pickens and Dominick Blaylock, who are both sure to have big sophomore seasons.

Once Cager was done for the year, it was pretty much Pickens and everyone else. Blaylock did a fine job but did not see enough action.

But there was just no help for Pickens or Blaylock and Smart acknowledged the lack of skill at receiver throughout the 2019 season.

On Wednesday, Smart spoke about the importance of Georgia football landing such a talented class of wide receivers this recruiting cycle.

“Wide receiver was an area that we had to address and I’m excited about the wide receivers that we have as additions to this signing class and those guys are expected to help us. With Justin (Robinson) being here now and going through a couple of bowl practices with us, it’s been a big addition to get those guys.”

Robinson was the only one of the five to enroll early in Athens.

Kirby Smart on importance of Georgia football’s 2020 RB signees

Georgia football HC Kirby Smart discussed the importance of bringing in two running backs in the UGA recruiting class.

After Georgia football landed college football’s No. 1 ranked recruiting class, head coach Kirby Smart spoke with the media about why he recruited each position group the way that he did.

As for the running backs, Georgia is losing starter D’Andre Swift to the NFL Draft and back-up Brian Herrien as well.

Waiting behind those two are former five-stars Zamir White and James Cook. But Georgia football coaches knew they needed to take two ball carriers in this class to reload the running back room, so they brought in 4-stars Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards.

The running back recruiting was a juicy story this recruiting cycle thanks to the drama that accompanied 5-star back Zach Evans, who Georgia eventually just passed on it sounds like.

On Wednesday, Smart discussed the significance of bringing in a second running back in this class to go with Milton.

“Getting a second back in this class was key for us. We’re excited about the young man we have, we’ve been after him for a long time, he’s come up to a lot of camps. He plays in what probably is one of the toughest divisions, regions in our state and he’s played a high level. You talk about the people he’s had to play against, he’s been a really good player, I’m talking about Daijun Edwards, and Kendall joining mid-year has been a big addition, too.”

Kirby Smart on 2020 QB recruiting: ‘We had a pool of 30-40 guys’

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart talked about QB recruiting with the fear of Jake Fromm going to the NFL Draft.

After Georgia football landed college football’s No. 1 ranked recruiting class, head coach Kirby Smart spoke with the media about why he recruited each position group the way that he did.

What Smart said about the quarterback position was interesting.

The coaches were aware that they were at risk of losing Jake Fromm to the NFL Draft, so they knew they’d have to either recruit a high school kid or find a transfer from another school.

The Georgia football staff did both, brining in 4-star QB Carson Beck and Wake Forest graduate transfer Jamie Newman.

On recruiting the quarterback position for this class, Smart said:

“We had researched the entire year with a thought that Jake (Fromm) would have the opportunity to come out early. So we had a pool of 30 to 40 of guys that we thought would be potential – whether they were transfers or whether they were grad transfers, whatever they may be, we knew we could possibly be in the quarterback market. And that included high school kids. And certainly excited about Carson and what he can do for our team. He came in and got to practice with us for the bowl game for a couple practices as well. But once Jamie went into the portal and we knew he was going to be a graduate transfer, we started communication immediately.”